Maoists destroy Panchayat office in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Feb 9 (IANS) Maoists Monday destroyed an office of a village council in Orissa’s Malkangiri district, the police said.

The rebels entered Badigata village, some 700 km from here and destroyed over 60 percent of the building using pick axes, shovels and crowbars, inspector-in-charge of the Kalimela police station P.K. Bisoi told IANS over phone. The building was constructed a year ago and was fully functional.

“Maoists are targeting official buildings in the interior areas because they fear the buildings could be used to keep police forces during forthcoming election,” he said.